August 13, 2017

Restitution and an underwear score

I'm just going to write this as a catch-up post. I spent so much time last week working on my blog (updating and organizing) that I just didn't feel like writing the last couple of days! I'm really happy with the changes, though--it's something that I've been procrastinating doing for a long time. If you want to check out the changes, you can just look through the tabs above each post on my blog. I basically answered all of the questions that I get via email by linking to the posts where I had written in-depth about each topic. I wanted it to be easier to find everything on my blog.

Anyway, this week wasn't too eventful, but I will try and catch up without dragging on like I usually do ;)

I left off when I wrote about Noah going for a bike ride with the neighbor boy, and the boy crashed his bike. His handlebar punctured his abdomen, and Noah called 911. I had no idea just how bad the injury was going to be!

It turned out that the handlebar went all the way through his skin and muscle, into his abdominal cavity; and on top of that serious injury, he broke his elbow. He had to have surgery to repair his abdomen. The whole thing is just so crazy! I'm thankful that Noah's phone was charged and that he actually made the call to 911 instead of waiting for an adult to do it. The neighbor boy is doing great!

Jerry was off work on Monday, so we had a "family day" and went to Elizabeth Park for a picnic (and so that Eli could fish--he's obsessed). Jerry and I went to Elizabeth Park frequently when we were dating. There is a bridge there that we especially loved (they have since built a new one because the old one was falling apart, unfortunately); I later found out that my mom had her wedding photos taken on that bridge!

We usually take the kids there a couple of times a year. This week, we had a picnic--Noah wanted to bring his new grill and cook hot dogs for us. I love just lying on a blanket and people watching at the park. It was pretty overcast, too, which is my favorite kind of weather. It was brighter than it looks in this picture, but I was glad not to be roasting in the sun.

There was a family of six down by the water, all of them with fishing poles. Eli went down to fish as soon as we got there, and literally the second he dropped his line in the water, he got a fish. He's taking after my dad so much! My dad is a master fisherman--he's been fishing since he was very young, and he knows the lake like the back of his hand. He doesn't use gadgets or coordinates when fishing; it's just become so ingrained in him that he knows exactly where to go and how to catch what he wants. When people want to catch fish, they go with my dad. Eli has been going out with him probably four times a week all summer! He said he wants to be a charter fisherman one day.

Noah and Eli fishing in front of my parents' house

Anyway, I was up on the hill, watching Eli and the family in front of us, and I was amazed--Eli caught 30 fish in the short time we were there, reeling them in one after the other. The family caught about eight out of all six of them fishing! I told Eli he has good karma, because he's compassionate. He loves to fish, but he takes great care when removing the hook and letting them go. He doesn't even kill gobies, which all the fishermen do. (They are considered an invasive species.)

At the park last week

Also last week...

The boys were outside playing catch and I was drinking tea while sitting on the deck watching them, when we saw a little black kitten playing behind our house. I told the boys to get in the house, we are not going to pet that cat(!) knowing that I'm a sucker when it comes to stray cats. But naturally, the kids called him over, and started playing with him. He was soooo skinny; and being the sucker that I am, I brought him some food. He wolfed it down, and was purring like crazy.

The kids asked if we could keep him, and I said absolutely not. I am not willing to take in another cat, especially not a kitten--a kitten is a 15- to 20-year commitment! We went in the house and I closed the blinds so the kids would stop looking to see if he was still out there. Of course, he was back in the morning for more food; and of course, I gave it to him.

I don't think he belongs to anyone. If he does, they are clearly not taking care of him. He's loaded with fleas, and he feels like skin and bones.

Update: (I actually started writing this post several days ago, so the above part about the cat needs to be updated). Remember the little boy who came to my house asking for water when he was locked out of his house? Well, I am pretty sure the cat belongs to his family.

There was a little girl who came over when I was feeding Chip Matthews the stray kitten, and she said that "it" was hers. Only she didn't know if it was a boy or girl (he's a boy) and she didn't have a name--she just kept calling him "kitty". I told her that he needs to go to a vet, because he's covered in fleas and he needs to get vaccinated; I said he needs food, because he is starving; and I said he needs to go inside the house, because there are coyotes and foxes right across the street that would love to get a hold of him.

She was quick to lie and said that they were taking him to the vet "today or tomorrow". I had just opened a can of food, so I told her that he really needed to eat now, and she left. While he was eating, I went to the store and bought some flea treatment, and put that him; then, I combed him with a flea comb to get rid of as many as I could.

He looked much better after I did that. Even if he does belong to that family, at least now he won't have fleas for about six weeks! We haven't seen him around for three days now. I just hope he's okay.

Remember the time, about two years ago, that I posted about someone breaking into our garage and stealing some random odd things--my iPod nano out of my car; a weed wacker; a gas can full of gas; and a hammer. A couple of days later, I posted that we discovered who did it (a bunch of teens who were having a bonfire--they stole things from several people's garages, and they threw everything into their fire!).

We filed a police report, and they said we may get a restitution check in the mail. The teens were all 17-18 years old, and I believe they went to jail for it (a few of the houses had attached garages, so the breaking in was a felony, because it's considered part of the house).

Anyway, we never did get the check in the mail, but we never really expected anything to come of it anyways. Then on Friday, lo and behold, a restitution check was in our mailbox! Two years and three months after the break in, the check was for $150, paid to the court by one of the teens. I was surprised, but the timing was great--because we need to get some things for the boys before school starts (school supplies, new socks and underwear, and a few other things). Since we're doing so well on our budget, I just thought of this check as extra money that we could use for the kids' school needs.

Yesterday, I went out to buy Noah and Eli new socks and underwear (one of the few things I won't buy at Salvation Army, hahaha). I hate buying these things because they are SO expensive! Even the cheapest boxer briefs work out to about $3 each, and I hate the fabric of them--it gets stretched out and saggy. I spent forever trying to figure out what to buy.

Finally, I picked some that were slightly better quality than the ones I hate. They were $14 for 3 pairs; I picked up three packages. On my way to the register, I noticed an end cap that had several packages of underwear on clearance. There were 10 packages, and all were a size small--exactly what I was looking for (thankfully, that's easy to find because most men aren't a size small).

They were originally marked $18 for three pairs, and they were much better quality than the ones I'd put in the cart--made of a soft, moisture-wicking fabric. They were marked down to $9! I was thrilled, and I ended up putting back the others and putting five of the clearanced packages in my cart.

On the way to the checkout, I saw a price scanner, and decided to scan them just to see if they might have been discounted any more. They scanned at $4.50! I was shocked. (I even looked them up on Amazon, and they were $18.)

So, I went back and bought the rest. Yes, that's a lot of underwear--but the kids just now went up a size, so I imagine they will be this size for a while. It was too good of a deal to pass up. Little things like that totally make my day! ;)

Today, Jerry is off work, and we made plans to have a fun day with the boys. Eli wants to fish (of course) so we're going to another nearby park where he can fish in a river.

When I went through a big cleaning and organizing phase a couple of months ago (which I'm still maintaining, by the way!), I came across Eli's birthday cards from about three years ago. When I was going to put them away, a $20 bill and a Toys R Us gift card fell out! I checked the rest of the cards and found more money. Haha! We had apparently forgotten about it being in there, and Eli never noticed. So, we are going to Toys R Us today as well to let him spend his gift card (finally!).

Of course not! But I just went through the same thing with a kitten that someone abandoned at my brother's house--I called everywhere I could think of, and they are too full to accept more cats. Besides, did you read the post I linked to about calling the police because I was concerned about the welfare of a child living there? I don't like to see anyone suffer! I made some calls about this kitten, and was waiting to hear back. There was nothing more I could do.

Ugh, I also hate buying socks and underwear! My husband will be helping with laundry and will say, 'umm, don't you think everyone could use some new underwear?'. That's when I know I've held off a bit too long, haha. My kids get hand me downs and I buy my clothes at thrift shops, so spending more money on socks and undies than I would on an entire outfit just kills me.

Hey Katie, I work for a big national sock and underwear company - next time we have a friends and family discount, I'll email it to you! Maybe it would be useful :) that is some good timing for the restitution check!

Thank you. When I was a kid, my parents would never dare let us feed a stray cat! They knew that the cat would come back day after day, expecting more food. I can't do that! I feel I did what I could by giving him food, water, flea treatment, and shelter (I left my garage door open a tiny crack so he could come and go). And of course we had to stick with the Friends theme! ;)

I literally laughed out loud when I read what you were calling that little stray kitty. Chips Matthews! Took me a minute, but I remembered "A lipper from Chipper." Too funny--Even if you don't keep the cat, and it sounds like the poor family has claimed him even if they can't really take care of him (such a sad situation for all of them), I like how you kept the "Friends" theme going. Love you Katie, your kindness and your intentions should never be questioned, and it makes me sad when someone does. Hey Mean People--Lay Off my Surrogate Daughter!!

Omg Chip Matthews! That made me laugh so hard!! I wish you would have kept this kitty just so we could have heard antics by a cat named Chip Matthews! ;) Sounds like you're having a good summer so far!

I really did consider keeping him, but Phoebe and Estelle are 9 and 10 years old; I think that when they are gone, and the kids move out, Jerry and I would like to travel. So, if we take in any more kitties, they'd have to be much older. Chip was adorable, though! (I haven't seen him since I put the flea treatment on him, so I speak of him in past tense).

Katie, anyone who reads your blog on a regular basis knows what a lovely, kind and considerate person you are. I thought your reply to the first post was very polite and restrained-good for you. And I can tell you have been doing a LOT of work on the blog-the tabs are great! Don't let one person's negativity discourage you-we think you're terrific!!

"Restrained"--hahaha! Sometimes it's hard to bite my tongue ;) It's funny, I used to be so sensitive to comments like that; but since starting my new medication, they don't bother me at all. It's a nice relief!

I'd love to hear from you! I read all of my comments, and if you have a question, I do my best to respond; sometimes, however, I get busy and forget to go back to reply, so if it's important, just email me! :) (I had to turn on comment moderation due to a ton of spam comments; but I will approve your comment asap!)

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